Feeding mechanism for cutting machines



June 4, 1935; R TUC E 2,004,021

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CUTTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 25, 1935 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Q ig/m t INVENTOR ATTORNEY June 4, 1935. R. M. TUCKERFEEDING MECHANISM FOR CUTTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 25, 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 nu llllllll llll- IIHIIIII-IIIIIIIIH Patented June 4,1935 UNITED STATES 2.004.021 FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CUTTING MACHINESRaymond M. Tucker, Sherman, Tex.

Application October 25,

3 Claims.

The invention relates to a cutting machine and more especially to amachine which automatically measures and cuts continuous strips ofvarious kinds of material, such as webbing, braids, hatbands, bindings,tapes, belt loops, knit tubing, etc. The primary object of the inventionis the provision of a machine of. this character, wherein a strip ofmaterial can be accurately cut into predetermined lengths and suchlength of cuts determined in the automatic operation of the machine themachine being of novel construction to assure convenience in the settingthereof for the measuring of the material for its length of cut and thecutting thereof with accuracy and without manual labor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter, wherein the material to be cut in required lengths is fedtherein with smoothness and under tension, so that the cut pieces willbe uniform in conformity with the setting of the measured lengths forthe cutting operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thischaracter which is comparatively simple in construction. thoroughlyreliable and eflicient in its purpose, eliminating manual labor andrequiring but a single attendant, readily and easily adjusted, strong.durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of theinven: tion, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 38 of Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the machine.

Figure 5 is a side view partly in section taken on the line 5-5 ofFigure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine showing indetail the manner of adjustment of the movable cutter blade.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view in detail of the material presserand adjuncts.

1933. Serial No. coarse (01. 271-24) Figure 8 is a diagrammatic planview showing the relation of the measuring mechanism, the throw of themovable cutter blade and the feed roller for the material when themeasuring parts are set for a maximum or full length cut of material.

Figure 9 is a similar view to Figure 8 showing a change of position ofthe feed rollers for a measured'length of cut material of three inches,the full length out being six inches.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine comprises a bed in fromwhich rise vertically 16 the side castings or frames H and i2,respectively, these being spaced apart the required distance from eachother to accommodate therebetween the upper and lower feed rollers l3and II, respectively, the axle ii of the latter being 'suit- 20 ablyJournaled in bearings IS in said castings or frames, while the axle i!of the roller I3 is fitted in bearings l8 displaceable in ways is insaid castings or frames ii and I2 so that the relation of the rollers i3and II with respect to each other, 25 under feeding action, can bevaried.

Swinglngly connected to the castings or frames I 2 is a tensioning yoke20 having its side arms hinged by the pivots 2i to said castings orframes and this yoke accommodates the bearings i8. 30 while activeagainst the yoke 20 is a tensioning spring 22 urging it in a directionfor the disposing of the lower roller it next to the upper roller I4 andto maintain such roller I! under tension at all times. Passed throughthe spring 22 is a fastener 23 which limits the swinging of the yoke 20under the tension of the spring 22, as will appear in Figure 2 of thedrawings.

Arranged between the castings or frames I I and is a guide platform orbed for the strip material 2! fed through the machine, the bed 24 beingcut away for the confronting of'the feed rollers i3 and H with eachother to have them act upon the strip material 25 for the feedingthereofto the cutting mechanism hereinafter described.

The platform or bed 24 at the front of the machine has formed therewithor fitted thereto a stationary cutting blade 28 with which cooperates amovable cutting blade 21 swingingly supported upon a pivot 28 at one endthereof and the e blades in the working of the machine sever thematerial 25' according to the desired length on the setting of themachine.

In the castings or'frames II and i 2 above the upper roller I4 is adriven shaft 29 having the gear 3| thereon meshing with a phiion 32 uponthe axle 33 of a belt wheel 34, the axle 33 being journaled in thecasting or frame II, and a power belt 35 is trained over the wheel 34,which belt is operated from any suitable source of power.

The shaft 29 has fitted thereto a crank 36 which through the connector31 reciprocates blade 21. This connector 31 includes the universalcouplings 33-on both the blade 2'l'and the crank 33 and the adjustingscrew 33 therebetween so that said connector can be lengthened andshortened to regulate the proper cutting action of the blade 21 in itscooperation with the blade 28.

The axle I5 of the roller l4 has splined or keyed thereto a gear 40meshing with the gear 31 and this gear 40 carries a pointer 4| for thecoaction therewith of a measuring dial face 42 of the outer part 43 of aclutch, this part 43 and. the other part 44, of the clutch being mountedupon the axle ll of the roller l3 for clamping and unclamping of a gear45 to and from said axle 11, the parts 43 and 44 being splined at 45with the axle H, as is shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This gear 45,loose upon the axle II when unclamped and fast mesh with the gear 40.The axle I! has threaded thereon a binding nut or knob 41 cooperatingwith the clutch to render the same effective for the clamping andunclamping of the gear 45 fast and loose on the shaft H. The clutch part43 has formed therewith diametrically opposed finger lugs 48 whichfacilitate the turning of the axle I! when the gear 45 is free thereonso as to set the roller l3 relative to the roller M for the varying ofthe feeding action of these rollers in advancing the material 25 to thecutter. The rollers l3 and M are of the mutilated type providing thehalf-circular raised roughened or corrugated feed portions 49 which,when changed with respect to their extent, control the length of feed ofthe material 25 for the cutting of said material into strips ofdetermined length from one-quarter inch to six inches, although this canbe varied according to the make-up of the feed roller. At theintroductory side of the machine for the passing of the material 25thereinto between the rollers l3 and I4 is a tensioning or brakingdevice which comprises a presser bar iii) carrying intermediate the endsthereof the pivot 5i connecting it with a tensioning arm 52 swinginglysupported by the pivot 53 provided with an outer handle end 54, the arms2 being tensioned by a spring 55 upon an adjusting stem 5% workingthrough :a hanger 51 and pivoted at 53 to said arm 52. The presser bar50 overhangs the platform 24 to frictionally contact with the material25 to regulate the advancement thereof into the machine and to sustainit under tension when feeding action is had thereon by the rollers l3and I4 to eliminate the crowding of the materialor the over-feedingthereof in the machine.

The manner of relating the feed rollers l3 and I4 by the measuringmechanism of the: machine is clearly exhibited in Figures 8 and 9 of thedrawings and likewise the disposition for the cutting action by theblade 21 as to the stroke of the latter for assuring accuracy in thecutting of the material 25 into determined lengths of strips. It isapparent that the eccentric 36 has its pivot point of connection withthe connector 39 of! center in advance of the starting point of thecycle of rotation of the feed rollers l3 and I4 so that the cuttingaction will be synchronous with the feeding action of the rollers l3 andI4 according to the cut of thereon when clamped, is in strip of adetermined length automatically in the working of the machine.

The roller I3 is manually turned to alter the portion 48 thereof withthe companion portion of the roller l4 for the setting of these rollersin conformity with the length of cut of strip desired under theautomatic working of the machine.

The platform or bed 24 transversely of the machine next to the presserbar 50 has provided therein spaced openings 59 for accommodating a gagepin 60 which can be selectively engaged with any of the openings 59 toset the same according to, the width of the material 25 to be deliveredto the machinefor the guiding of such material in the feeding of thesame for the automatic mease uring and cutting operation thereof.Adapted for cooperation with the gage pin 60 is an abutment 6| which isin the form of a screw engaged in the platform or bed 24 and one edge ofa the material when introduced to the machine between the parts 60 and6| will contact with both the screw and said pin for the proper guidingof the material in the automatic feeding thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, upper andlower feed rollers therein, fixed bearings for one of the rollers,displaceable bearings for the other roller, a tension-' ing yoke mountedon the frame and having connection with the displaceable bearings andadapted for swinging movement, means for tensioning the said yoke tourge one roller toward the other and maintain it under tension, meansfor limiting the swing of the yoke, a guide platform for strip materialarranged to one side of the rollers and in a plane to have the stripmaterial pass therebetween, a presser bar overhanging the platform, atensioning arm swingingly supported and pivoted to said presser bar,means regulating the tension of the presser bar, a gear on an axle ofone of the rollers, a gear on an axle of the other roller, one gearbeing loose and the other fixed, a pointer on the fixed gear, a two-partclutch for clamping and unclamping the loose gear, a measuring dial onthe outermost part of said clutch and cooperating with the pointer, anda hand knob cooperating with the clutch for rendering the sameineflective for clamping and unclamping action.

2. A machine of the character described comin, fixed bearings for one ofthe rollers, displaceable bearings for the other roller, a tensioningyoke mounted on the frame and having connection with the displaceablebearings and adapted for swinging movement, means for tensioning thesaid yoke to urge one roller toward the other and maintain it undertension, means for limiting the swing of the yoke, a guide platform forstrip material arranged to one side of the rollers and in a plane tohave the strip material pass therebetween, a presser bar overhanging theplatform, a tensioning arm swingingly supported and pivoted to saidpresser bar, means regulating the tension of the presser bar, a gear onan axle of one of the rollers, a gear on an axle of the other roller,one gear being loose and the other fixed, a pointer on the fixed gear, atwo-part clutch for clamping and unclamping the loose gear, a measuringdial on the outermost part of said clutch and cooperating with thepointer, a hand knob cooperating with the clutch for rendering the sameineffective for clamping and unclamping action, and opposed finger lugson the outermost part of said clutch for actuating the said clutch foraltering the feed of the feed rollers.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a frame, upper andlower feed rollers therein, fixed bearings for one of the rollers,displaceable bearings for the other roller, a tensioning yoke mounted onthe frame and having con-" and maintain it under tension, means forlimiting the swing of the yoke, a guide platform for strip materialarranged to one side of the rollers and in a plane to have the stripmaterial pass therebetween, a presser bar overhanging the platform, atensioning arm swingingly supported and pivoted to said presser bar,means regulating the tension of the presser bar, a gear onan axle of oneof the rolle a gear on an axle of the other roller. one gear being looseand the other fixed, a pointer on the fixed gear, a two-part clutch forclamping and unclamping the loose gear. a measuring dial RAYMOND M.,TUCKER. 15

